Michael is 15 months old, on the move and crazy charming.  When I first arrived, he showed me one of his favorite games: run from mommy to auntie and back again… fast, fast, fast!

It just sort of happens.  There’s always this once space in a house where we take photos progressively over time and you get to see how things change.  For Caroline and Michael, its the guest bed.  Here’s a wee sampling, I know its just four photos but not only do things change, personalities seem to emerge a little early in this household.

But wait, look who knows how to work this shot all of a sudden?  Who is getting all vogue-y with it for the camera?  While it may be a more recessive trait, I’m starting to think Michael carries the camera ham gene.

Though he did maintain his more predictable, stoic camera demeanor outdoors:

…until big sister, Caroline, came home from school and then it was a lot of leaves, dance moves and sibling love.  The best way to spend a fall afternoon, IMO.

Then daddy came home….

…and it was time for  family photos.  We never really know what Caroline is going to do, which is what makes these photos so much fun!

Here’s a slideshow with a song suited to a budding baby model.  Or, click here to see the gallery.  Or, jump in a leaf pile and celebrate this fall season with your family before we all get quickly ushered into the next crazy season!  Yes, you know the one I speak of…

Posted by Mel @ 6:51 pm, in Portraits, Wee Ones | No comments | Permalink

Ain’t no stopping her now… she’s on the move!  (insert disco groove by McFadden & Whitehead here).  We needed to get this shoot on the books before Reese got even faster and was on her feet!

Its rare that my favorite photos of the day happen within the first 5 minutes of my arrival.  But you never know when opportunity is going to knock, you just answer the door.  Reese was getting up from her nap and standing in her crib, sticking out her tongue like she likes to do right now.  All babies go through this phase, don’t they?

Then big brother Brayden asked if he could get into the crib too.  And the party began…  I love that Sammy the dog is nestled up in Reese’s chair in the background, trying to ignore the munchkin hullabaloo.

Why stop the fun there?  We went downstairs so that Reese had more space to show off her new crawl when a family band of sorts spontaneously broke out.  While they aren’t the Partridge Family (yet), you have to admire their style.

I’m pretty sure this is why men have kids…

And then we got to see the crawl.  She was in hot pursuit of my lens and as you can see she’s pretty quick…

I love the shadow of Reese’s hand reaching forward in this one:

Then it was outside to play and check out the pumpkins.

Here’s a slideshow of the day and click here if you would like the view the gallery.  This year is going by so fast, I can’t believe that this little girl is crawling herself closer and closer to turning one… Stay tuned for more then!

Posted by Mel @ 8:20 pm, in Portraits, Wee Ones | No comments | Permalink

Remember Jessica and Kim?  Their adorable son, Kellen, made a rather big entrance into the world at close to 10 pounds!  He was the baby that the nurses liked to wheel around the delivery ward and show off… “look at how big THIS one is!”  At two weeks old, he is a big deal indeed.

I love Kellen’s room with its bright, cheery aqua walls and handmade accents.   As a mom, I definitely think that decor that hangs from the ceiling of a nursery trumps anything you can put on a wall since babies spend so much of their infancy looking UP…  the wall stuff is more for us than for them.  So of course, I love the handmade balloons above the crib with colorful, matching stars above the changing table.  The bright green dresser and modern rocker make perfect accents:

Speaking of handmades, check out this blankie made by grandma.  Be still, my crafty heart.

The leaves on Kellen’s rocker seem pretty appropriate for a fall baby!

We tried so hard to get Kellen to sleep.  So hard.  You wouldn’t believe the tricks we pulled.  And finally, after much cradling, rocking, shushing, swinging, eating, and then more cradling and rocking and shushing, he was out.

And then he was up:

Pretty short lived.  But don’t worry, he got lots of cuddles:

The nice thing is that I got to take a crack at cuddling Kellen to sleep myself, which was by far the best part of my day.

Congratulations to Jessica and Kim on such a beautiful little boy, I loved catching up with you both.  Here’s a slideshow and the online gallery, I’m so happy I get to watch this little big guy grow!

Posted by Mel @ 7:00 pm, in Newborns, Portraits, Wee Ones | 1 comment | Permalink

I love shooting for Amber and Justin.  In addition to the fact that their son is Adorable (yes, with a capital “A”), they are amazing parents who have no trouble loving on their son as though I’m not even there.  Which makes capturing that love a piece of cake.

How’s this for the definition of “Little Boy Blue”?

If there’s a problem with having a smiley baby, its that you come to expect that winning grin all the time.  I learned that Eli is an uber smiler at our beach shoot not too long ago so I think all of us came into this session expecting to see dimple.  Eli, on the other hand, wanted to mix it up a bit and show us his more serious side.  And this wasn’t a bad thing…

…because it made us play harder.  Which made everyone else grin a little bigger.  Well played, little man.

Most of the time I edit out the drool.  But in this session, there were two drool shots so impressive that I couldn’t bring myself to Photoshop a thing!

Perry the cat made cameo appearances throughout the shoot.  And as cat people know, you just can’t make this stuff happen:

Just like baby chub peeking out through summer dresses on little girls, I’ve got a special love for tiny feet hanging out of pant legs on baby boys.  Baby pants might be the most ridiculously adorable invention.  Especially when they have functional pockets so that babies have a place to keep their keys and their smokes.

Here’s the shot where I said to Eli, “So, man, what are you in for?”

Then he got the joke:

Eli still naps best in someone’s arms.  So nap time became a special photo op.  I especially like the suitcase in the corner, it makes me wonder where slumberland took him.

Here’s a slideshow and the gallery and many, many thanks to Amber and Justin for their hospitality, especially the “broken” sugar cookies.  An accident?  I think not but I was clearly a beneficiary.  Be good until the next shoot, you three.

Posted by Mel @ 6:48 pm, in Portraits, Wee Ones | 1 comment | Permalink